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If he didn’t discover her secrets and kill her, she just might live long enough to see him die.
She was married. And she was about to be trapped in this temple for a year—cut off from everything and everyone she had ever known.
She threw up on her new husband’s boots.
Mazel tov!
“At least we know he’s not a rebel.” That was fair. Rivard’s family was as old and loyal as Carver’s own, and they’d known each other for years—which
Please tell me this is not going to be as predictable as this sentence makes it seem like it’s gonna be
Torin
Oh yeah. Torin’s a good name.
He pulled her into a last, hard embrace. “You are strong, and so incredibly brave,” he whispered. “I’m in awe of you.” Emotion heated her veins, and her throat tightened. “This isn’t goodbye.” “I know.” He pulled back, and Amryn’s heart hammered as she felt the waves of his rioting emotions crashing into her own. His focus was absolute as he met her gaze. “I love you.”
STOPPP IM GONNA CRY
there was a fine netting cast over the doorway—no doubt to keep the insects out. Perhaps it also deterred the monkeys she could hear, screeching and chattering nearby. Every lamp in the room was lit, and the windows and balcony revealed the jungle beyond, its emerald hue slowly being overtaken by the shadow of coming night.
A jungle setting is literally such a cool idea for a fantasy series why don’t we see this more
“I will never touch you against your will.” She stared at him, and he couldn’t tell if she believed him. It didn’t matter if she was a rebel or not, he didn’t like the thought that any woman would be afraid of him. Besides, things would be easier if she could relax around him. She might let her defenses fall. So he smiled. “If I did, my mother would kill me.” The words surprised a short, somewhat hoarse laugh out of her. “She would?” “My father would help her.”
“Don’t tell me that the emperor’s favored general is afraid of heights,” she said, one eyebrow raised. He scoffed. “As if I’m the one with an issue if I have a rational fear of falling off a cliff and plunging to my death?” “You know,” she said a bit drolly, “I grew up playing on mountains.” “Then it’s a blessing from the Divinities that you’re still alive.”
wait no cuz I love them
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re overly dramatic?” “Yes. Just about everyone,” he added, making his tone as dramatic as possible.
“I suppose my palate is a little more discerning than yours.” “You can add milk to it,” Carver said. “I can also not drink it.”
“Your plan is to play the fool?” He almost looked offended. “I’m quite capable of playing a fool.” “I know. I’ve seen it. But it’s always been unintentional on your part.” Argent’s eyes narrowed. “I could have you hanged, you know.” “So you’ve been saying all our lives.”
undulating
I found it!
Even now, sitting silently beside him, she stole his attention. Which was bloody inconvenient,
Her eyebrows drew together. “I’ve never touched a sword in my life.” Carver tipped the blade up until it bumped her clasped hands. Her fingers twitched and she frowned at him.
Ok ok so I might love them
He rolled his wrist, spinning the blade. “Come on. It won’t hurt you to try.” Amryn lifted one brow. “No, but it might hurt you.”
Soooooo… they’re adorable.
Amryn poked his chest with the tip of her sword. “Now that you’ve taught me how to hold it, do we get to hit each other?” “Have you always been this violent?” he asked. Her head listed to the side. “No. You must bring it out in me.” She lifted her sword. “So. Can we start hitting each other?” Carver grinned. “Absolutely.”
AAAAAHHHHHHH
“You always have my attention.” The soft words—so quiet she barely heard them—made her stomach flutter, and warmth spread through her
Good gracious this man
“You can’t tell me you never ate anything questionable as a child.” He shrugged. “I ate a stick.” She blinked. “You ate a stick?” “It’s not exactly something I’m proud of, but yes. I ate a stick.”
Flirt👍
she’d whispered goodnight . . . Saints, his heart started pounding again just thinking of it. Which wasn’t exactly helpful,
I love how they’re both just completely inconvenienced by their feelings for each other
“I won the bet. She’s got flaming red hair.” “You’re an idiot.” “I’m a winning idiot.”
“A guard could have been the one to kill her,” Tam pointed out. “No one else in Esperance is allowed to have weapons.”
I feel like Tam is the imposter.
She cleared her throat. “Tam has seemed especially quiet the past few days.”
Oh yeah. It’s definitely Tam.
I knew I needed to tell him goodbye, though. That I loved him. That I didn’t think less of him for what had happened, and I didn’t blame him. And he looked right at me and said, I blame you. I hate you.” Berron’s voice had been clear. There was no sonne in his body,
DAMN.
I thought they were gonna give us something medium-sad… something that would make us hate Rivard and rally behind Carver but nothing more...
This is just straight-up devastating though. It’s heartbreaking. WTH is this. They came out the gate SWINGING bro what.
Which is really very genius. Because they gave us something that makes me hate Rivard, and pity Carver. Which is PERFECT. It makes me love Carver that much more.
I can’t imagine having a family member say that to you. To see the descent of someone you love so much, and then hear them say that…. It would wreck me… it would destroy me bro. Damn.
She’d asked a bloody good question.
Dude. You’re the one who asked the question. Be for real.
“Do you have anything you’d like to confess, General?” “I think my irritation is obvious enough,” Carver said flatly. “But I can declare it, if you’d prefer.”
“The price some men pay for power is nearly as terrible as the fact that evil men are often the only ones who gain it.”
Cleric Felinus stood behind her, a stack of books in his arms. He nodded to the one she’d just shelved.
Ok if the murderer isn’t Tam, I’m convinced it’s this man.
“I’ve found that sometimes the most vexing things are nothing.”
“We expect writers to give us everything, but sometimes it’s up to the reader to look a little deeper. And if you don’t . . . well, you might miss something wonderful.”
It would be a shame if we had more compassion and understanding for a fictional character than we do for those closest to us.” Amryn slid the last book into place, not quite meeting his gaze as she said, “Fictional characters don’t have the ability to hurt us.” “The best ones certainly do.
“To live is to face the unknown. It is the joy and the challenge we all must meet. But I know you’re equal to the task.”
Argent crossed his arms over his chest. “This Marriset scheme of yours . . . I know you’re trying to determine if she’s a threat, and I’m grateful for your help. But it’s hurting Amryn. Jayveh told me if you break her heart, I have to duel you.” He huffed a laugh. “You’d lose.” “Probably. So don’t let it come to that.”
“And what about you?” Argent asked. “Did you give your heart to her?” He snorted, trying to breathe past the sudden pang in his chest. “No.” The red-haired harpy had stolen it.
She had given him comfort when he didn’t deserve it. She had given him beauty in every smile, when all he’d seen for too long was horror. She had trusted him with her darkest memories when he was drowning in his own.
Before their lips touched, she stiffened and jerked away. Hurt slashed him a second before she sneezed. Violently. Three times.
WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK EVEN IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ASDFGHJKL
He’s in love with you.” Amryn nearly choked. “He’s not.” He was attracted to her, and he’d nearly kissed her. But he wasn’t in love with her. Jayveh shook her head. “I can’t wait to see the moment you realize you’re wrong.”
he didn’t want lies, but he feared the truth.
Saints, he didn’t want her to be a rebel. He didn’t want her to be his enemy. He just wanted her to be his.
Samuel rounded the corner and strode toward her.
Oh come on. We haven’t even really gotten to know this guy! I don’t care if he’s the rebel. Tam would have been such a better reveal.
I’m still holding out hope tbh.
“What about Cora and Rivard? Did they have to die?” His mouth tightened. “The Rising isn’t responsible for their deaths. I already conveyed that to you after Cora was killed. There’s someone else at work here.”
I KNEW IT. I still think it’s Tam
“Amryn has something to tell you, but first she needs immunity and a full pardon from the empire.” “Done,” Argent said, no deliberation or questions. He loved his best friend.
Awww oh my gracious I love their friendship so much
Carver leveled him with a look. “You’re a worse gossip than Elowen.” “Your sister isn’t a gossip,” Argent said, stooping to pick up Carver’s fallen practice sword. “She’s just informed.”
Have I mentioned that I love them? Because I love them.
She wasn’t grieving—not exactly. Instead, Tam felt sparks of anger and ripples of melancholy, though shock remained dominant. “It seems so wrong,” she’d whispered once. “I was with Rivard for his final days, but not my own mother? Haven’t enough of us died here? Why won’t they just let us go home?”
Oh yeah. She’s definitely the imposter.
she wondered how she hadn’t known he was a rebel before. He wasn’t a very good actor, especially under pressure.
Because you literally didn’t talk to him at all ever before the meeting where you found out. Because he was the very definition of a background character.
I’m still salty about this.
“Oh, I think the ending is exactly what Amryn is afraid of.”
yes…
She knew that voice, but it was wrong—all wrong. It was dark, edged with harsh humor and tinged with bitterness. The woman’s emotions felt equally as wrong, but there was no doubting who she was.
Yes…
Tam stepped into the glow of the lamp, her dark red dress trailing behind her
YESSSS
AHAHAHA I WAS RIGHT.
“Amryn, you look so surprised. You really had no idea, did you?”
I DID. I HAD AN IDEA. HUZZAH!!
